If you are visiting the centre of France, a vineyard tour around Châteaumeillant should be on your ‘must do’ list. But why should you spend your hard-earned cash on a winery tour around this relatively unknown AOC? Here are just some of the reasons why visiting Châteaumeillant’s vineyards should not be missed…

1) Châteaumeillant is full of smaller, family-run vineyards

One of the best things about visiting Châteaumeillant is that it is jam-packed full of smaller family-run vineyards, which means that you will get to meet the people who actually make the wine. Not their PR or marketing manager. But the people whose livelihood it is to grow the vines and turn the grapes into our favourite drink.

One of the other positives about visiting smaller, family-run producers, is that things that have been automated by other, larger winemakers, are still done in the traditional way, making for a much more interesting visit.

2) The history of Châteaumeillant is fascinating

We may be biased, but we think that Châteaumeillant has one of the most intriguing histories of any French wine producing area, bar none.

Only a couple of years ago, another 2,000 year old cellar filled with amphores was unearthed, the like of which has reportedly never been found anywhere else in Europe. The great mystery surrounding why these amphores were there and indeed why they were kept intact instead of being recycled and used as something else (like paving material) still remains unanswered today.

3) On a vineyard tour you will get to discover this area’s delicious rosé gris

We know we are always banging on about Châteaumeillant rosé gris, but we promise you that when you taste it, you will understand. With wonderfully dry with fruity, almost zingy notes, Châteaumeillant’s rosé gris will go perfectly with everything from a BBQ to a pizza and is absolutely the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer’s day.

Taking a Châteaumeillant winery tour is the best way to find your favourite producer (we bet you’ll struggle!) as you will be tasting a range of different wines, including Châteaumeillant’s light and fruity reds (we’ll let you into a little secret here – they make a wonderful Kir Berrichonne – check out our next week’s blog for a recipe for this!).

Want to go on a Châteaumeillant wine tasting tour?

Goûts du Berry offers half and full day wine tasting tours around Châteaumeillant. If you want to discover some other vineyards of the Berry region, we also offer day trips to Sancerre, Quincy and Reuilly.

Fancy something a little different? Get in touch about our Bespoke Tours and for that extra special break in the French countryside, we also offer a luxury Wine and Food Adventure in partnership with a local château.